Joint Committee on Sustainable Development.
(1) That it is expedient that a Joint Committee of both Houses of the Oireachtas, which shall be called the Joint Committee on Sustainable Development, be appointed consisting of 15 Members of Dáil Éireann and four members of Seanad Éireann to identify, in prospect of the National Sustainable Development Strategy being prepared by the Government, measures designed to maximise the advantage to Ireland of environmentally sustainable sectoral policies and, in particular, to consider (by way of case studies or otherwise) the extent of Irish participation in the growing world market for environmental goods and services and the means by which this market share can be increased and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Joint Committee shall present its final report within two years of the date of the order appointing the Joint Committee.
(2) That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairperson, who shall have only one vote.
(3) That all questions in the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes, the question shall be decided in the negative.
(4) That the quorum of the Joint Committee shall be five.
(5) That provision be made for the appointment of substitutes to act for members of the Joint Committee or of a sub-Committee who are unable to attend particular meetings.
(6) That Members of the Oireachtas, not being members of the Joint Committee, may attend meetings and take part in the proceedings of the Joint Committee without having a right to vote.
(7) That the Joint Committee shall have the power to send for persons, papers and records and, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it in its consideration of any matter comprehended by paragraph (1).
(8) That the Joint Committee shall have power to print and publish from time to time minutes of evidence taken before it together with such related documents as it thinks fit.
(9) That the Joint Committee may invite submissions in writing, if considered necessary by the Committee, from interested persons or bodies on any matter comprehended by paragraph (1).
(10) That no document received by the Clerk to the Joint Committee shall be withheld, withdrawn or altered without the knowledge and approval of the Committee.
(11) That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make shall, on adoption by the Joint Committee, be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith, together with any document relating thereto which the Joint Committee proposes to publish, whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report and the said document or documents, as the case may be.
(12) That the Joint Committee shall have the power to discuss and draft proposals for legislative changes and new legislation for recommendation to Ministers which are relevant to the matters comprehended by paragraph (1).
(13) That all appointees to high office in the State shall attend meetings of the Joint Committee, as appropriate, and subject to the legal constraints of their office, to discuss issues which are relevant to the matters comprehended by paragraph (1).
(14) That Ministers and Ministers of State shall appear before the Joint Committee to discuss current policies relevant to the matters comprehended by paragraph (1) and the implementation of such policies in their Departments. A Minister or Minister of State may request the Joint Committee to convene to enable him or her to explain current or proposed policy or to initiate a debate thereon."